Biographical Details:
Frank Allan McGregor was born in Fremantle in 1889, the second oldest of six children born to William James McGregor and Alice Elizabeth Graves. A labourer, Frank enlisted in May 1915. Frank had a brother, Roy Edward, who also enlisted but died while a POW in France.
Initially Frank was assigned to the 7th Reinforcement of the 11th Battalion but was then transferred to A Company, 28th Battalion. Training would have been at Blackboy Hill, on board the Ascanius and in Egypt. In September the Battalion embarked Alexandria on the Ivernia where he served three months before the AIF withdrew to Egypt for reinforcement and recovery. Three months later the Battalion landed in France.
During the Raid Frank, a Battalion Bomber, was a member of the Right Blocking Party led by Sgt Roy Brown.
Two months later on 4th August, Frank was reported missing during the Battle of Pozieres. A subsequent Red Cross report and a Court of Enquiry in February 1917 officially declared him as Killed in Action, probably between 4th and 6th August, 1916. However, it appears that in October 1919 a search was made of German Prisoner of War records to again confirm that Frank did die in 1917. His remains were never recovered and his name appears on a wall at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Picardie, France.
Frank’s father wrote to the AIF in March 1917 seeking both of his sons’ personal effects. Sadly none were located.
After the war Frank’s father received service medals and the Memorial Scroll and Memorial Plaque for both of his sons.
In 1948 Frank’s father died. The Public Trustee, who was administering Mr McGregor’s estate, contacted the AIF asking for confirmation of the deaths of both Frank and his brother.
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